Plane struggled to take off in Belfast after pilots' data error

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Entry of wrong temperature into computer could have had ‘catastrophic’ consequences

A Boeing 737 carrying 185 passengers struggled to take off before it reached the end of the runway at Belfast international airport and then flew low for two and a half miles after pilots typed the wrong temperature into the onboard computer, which investigators said could have had “catastrophic” consequences.

With the autopilot calculating the takeoff speed based on a temperature of -52C, instead of 16C, the plane lifted off at the extreme end of the runway, striking a 36cm-high light on the ground almost 30 metres after takeoff.

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